The kara, or bracelet, has a long history in the Indian subcontinent. Descended from the metal bracelets worn by ancient Hindu warriors, the modern Sikh kara is representative of the never ending nature of God.

The links below will give you more information on the history of the kara, as well as some potential defensive and offensive applications of these bracelets.

The karas I’m offering today were machined from 300-series stainless steel, which is hypoallergenic. They are mirror polished too. Standard karas are nickel-plated and for those of us with allergies to nickel, they are practically unwearable. These karas are much more durable and can be used to block unarmed attacks, weapons and even be used like brass knuckles. I wear a heavier one of these every day! Most people will want to wear one you can slide on and off easily if you intend to use it as a defensive tool or a weapon.

This model is known as the five-line: the lines represent the five virtues in Sikhism.

I don’t personally have one of these, but I find this style of kara quite attractive. The internal diameter of this kara is 2 3/4″ and it is 4mm thick. This kara weighs 1 oz. It is beautifully finished too.